Well reamer



J. I. SEAY I WELL REAMER April 9, 1935.

Filed June 21, 1954 HHHHHI H I IHH BH W AN .Illlh WELL REAMER. 1

I James I. Seay, Memphis; Tenn.

Application June 21, 1934,- Serial No. 731,654

g 9 Claims; (01.25546) .This invention relates toimp'rovements in tools that water bealso forced to the reaming plates for drilling wellsfand more particularly to .tools when thelatterare in use. However-the amount which have reamers ioruse in connection thereof lwater which is needed for the pilot bit alone with; for the purpose of locallyenlargingthe well is much less than that which is needed where boreat a desired place or places. i reamingv is being done. i i H Artesian wells particularly for water supply are Also in'all cases, itis necessary that all the drilled throughfvaried strata and into water bearwater furnished ;be delivered through the pilot ing sand A'well casing is provided which extends 'bit,-both for the pilot. bitand' for the reamer, it through these varied strata and a strainer isse 1 having been found thatwhere part of the water 10 cured to and projects below thelower end of the may escape directly-to the reamer .the pilot bit 10 casing deep into if not entirely through the sand chokesup and does not passany of, the water, strata. Water must flow through this strainer and therefore clogs and efiectually prevents furfroin the sand and the openings inthe strainer. ther operation. i mustbe large enoughito allow. the water flow, It is foundtoo, that some of the material-m yet fine enough to restrain the sand. Even so the: movedby the reamerdrops: down and assists in 15 openings arejrapidly enlarged and the strainer the choking of the pilot bit, so that the need for must eventually be replaced or the well be aban flushing-throughzthe pilot bit. is even further emdoned. I K 11-" phasized. I. l As one way'of overcoming these difiiculties a= The primary object of .the present invention is bore much larger than the strainer used has been to providein a well reamer having aipilotfbit, 20

made and the space around the strainer has been means for compelling flushing fluid .to now difilled with gravel. In such case reliance is placed rectly to the. pilot bit when the reaming means on the gravel to restrain the sand and theopenare closed, and means for augmenting the sup ings in the strainer need only be small enough ply'of water furnishcdthroughthe. pilot bit "when to prevent the gravel entering. Such gravel type the reamer blades areopen and in working po- 25 of wells have not only-largely increased the sition. H w a strainer life but have also effected tremendous A further object istto. provide means in adeincreases in well capacity; but it has been neces- Vice employing. a;piston to extend the reaming. sarytomaka at large e'xtracost, and ordinarily. means, whereby thepiston employedmay befreed to completely case at still greater cost, a bore fromfrom .sand ortotherimaterial such asis necessar- 30 throughthe overlying strata tobe only suflicientbits in closed orfinoperative position.

the surfaceof the ground downward whichap ily in suspension therearound during ,operation. proximated' the desired diameter of the gravel sec- The "means by which the foregoing and other tion except that some enlargementin the sand objects are accomplished and the manner. of

. has been accomplished bywashing the sand Walls their accomplishment will readily be seen from 35 down. Unfortunately however,even'th'en the rethe following specification onreference to the ,35 sulting bore in the sand is unevenand cannot be accompanying drawing. in which, 1 satisfactorily controlled. It isthe purpose of the i :Fig. l is a vertical section .onthe center line present toolto cut, and control the size oi, this of a drill stem and head and at right angles larger bore thereby permitting the bore andcasing to reamer bits carriedby the head,showing the ly larger than the strainer andstrainerpipe to be a Fig. ,2 is a sectional elevation at right angles used to allow feedin in, o p cin of the gravel to Fig.4 1, with" the dreamer blades extended into around the strainer after the strainer is in place. outti gfposition.andxthe bit carried by an ex In such work trouble is often-had in holding the tensionbar. v i

reamer straight and therefore it is foundadvan- Fig, *3 is .a fragmentary elevation showing a 45 V tageous to use in connection with the reamer porhollow drill bar between the head and bit. tion of the apparatus apilot bit whichextends be- Fig. 4 is a" transverse. section taken on the low the reamer and guides the bottom end of the line IV-IV of Fig. "1, and I ori r t is en rally f u d n ssary to do Fig." 5 anenlarged sectional elevation of a Someboring With this pilot bit at a time w en fragmentary portion ofthe cylinder forming part v reaming is not being done and therefore at-a time :of the drill head, together with piston therein when it isnecessary that the reamer platesbe Reierring 'now to the, drawing inlwhich the Closed and Op p sit on. 1 various parts are indicatedby numerals, the tool To do this drilling it is necessary that waterbe comprises essentially a head [4, which is screwedj forced directly to thepilot bit as itis necessary on to a drill pipe I5 which extends to the sur 5 faceof the ground. The head I4 is transversely slotted at M3 to provide a pocket in which reamer blades l! are housed. In Figs. 1 and 4, these blades are shown in retracted position, and in Fig. 2 in open position. Fig. 2 also shows in dash lines the position HA. the blades occupy when closed. Adjacent the. upper end of the pocket, is a pin l8 on which the blades ll are pivoted, the holes for the pivot pin in each blade being adjacent an end thereof. Extending upward from theslot I6 is a restricted bore is in which a piston rod 26 is slidably mounted. Above the bore Hi the head is provided with an enlarged cylindrical bore or cylinder ii in which is disposed a suitable piston 22. Preferably this piston comprises a solid cylindrical center 23 rigidly secured on or forming. an integral post into loose contact only with such "walls. The

rings are definitely of less height than the pocksets and are spaced away from the back of such pockets; providing spaces between such rings and the'body and flange of thesleeve. 1 {Disposed beneath the piston and abutting the underside thereof is a compression spring ,30 which acts to hold the piston and the piston rod attached thereto in raised position. 'Pivotally connectedto the'blades I'Las by pins 35, are

,links 32 one link being connected to each or" the blades. The opposite ends of these linksare both connected by a joint pin 33,to the lower end of the piston rod 2E], the relation of the linkage, the piston rod and the reamer blades being such that when the piston is in raised poing or vent in the cylinder below the piston.

J'Ihe lower end of the head 14 is adaptedto :carry a drill bit 40, which may be either secured directly into such-head, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, or to a hollow drill rod 4| which may be of desired length and which inturn is carried by the head; The drill bit 40 is provided witha passageway or passageways 42' which lead from its upper end downward adjacent its point.

- The cylinder 2| is provided with two openings 43 and'ee,.both of which leadainto a passage,-

wayf lb'that extends downward along the head,

It, and is connected thereinto; above *the end ofthe drill bit,-thereby establishing a passageway from the hollow drill stem, to the lower end of'the bit. This passageway may be formed in the metal of the head itself but preferably is a tube, the lower portion. of which may be double,

to pass'the pin l8 with'full capacity; 7 The opening 43'into the passageway 45 is above the upper endoi the piston. 22 and is held to the fmiinimum size which will serve'the drillpoint At. This hole-fortunately may do this and yet be'so small that enough pressuremay still be put thereafter.

on the piston to force it down and expand the blades into reaming position. The lower opening 44 is immediately above the piston when the latter is in its lowest position, and is of sufficient size to provide flushing water for the reaming blades. The passageway 45' is continuous from these openings to the bit, so that all water or other flushing fluid must be discharged through the bit, thereby definitely'fiushing the bit, both when the reamer blades are operative or inoperative. may be used.

In use; the assembly with reaming blades held closed, as by the action of the spring 30, is lowered into the well. If desired, drilling=is ,done with the bit 49, flushing water being delivered through the opening 43 and, passageway 45 to the drill bit. When it is desired to expand the reamer blades into operative position, much heavier pressure is exerted upon the fluid'in the drill stem and the piston 25 is forced downward, moving the Two of these passageways obviously blades outward: As this action progresses the spring tension becomes greater but the pressure due to cutting action of the bottom of the blades assists in accomplishing the outward movement especially if the drill stem'is..moved, as is customary,downward at the same time. When the piston reaches, its lowest position the fluid pressure is lessened butat the same time the detent engages the'notch 34 andtogether with the remaining fluid pressure and work-action of the blades holds the latter in extended position. Withthepiston down, a full supply of fluid flows through the two openings, the passageway and the bit to flush and remove material out both by the bit'and the blades, and effectually prevents material dislodged by the blades from dropping down and clogging thebit.

On completion of reaming operations, fluid pressure is out 01f. and the spring 30 allowed to retract the blades ,and'allow removal of the assembly. v J

In order that pressure due to hydrostatic head be balanced it is necessary that the cylinder 2| be provided with some means suchasan opening or vent 36 by which pressure due to'head equalizedon the piston. During operation, sand or other material entering this opening or otherwise, finds its way to the packing of the plunger, in many cases heretofore tightlywedging this packing and the plunger. In the present construction it is found that the pressure exerted from above the loose soft rings spread them into an effective piston packing, and that removal of such pressure permits them to resume their original shape and .such sand to V, be loosened, and washed out, restoring the piston to-its original efficiency, either by interruption of operation or It will be understood that the drawing and description herein are intended as illustrative only, and that various details thereof may be modified within the scope of the claims. 7

What I- claim is: I V

1." In awell boring tool having reamer-means optionally movable into operative or-inoperative position, and a pilot bit carried by said tool below said reamer-means, means for delivering a flushingfluid to said pilot bit when said reamer-means are in inoperative position and means for augmenting such flow to said bit'whensaid reamermeans are moved to operative position;

2. In a well boring tool having reamer blades optionally movable into operative or inoperative position, and a pilot bit carried bysaid tool below said blades, means for supplying a flushing fluid and for, delivering said fluid to said pilotbit when said blades are in inoperative position and means for augmenting-such delivery to said bit when said blades are moved to operative position.

3. In a well boring tool having reamer-means optionallymovable into operative or inoperative position, a pilot bit carried by said'toolbelow said reamer-means, means iorsupplying a flushing fluid and for compelling delivery of said fluid past said reamer-means to said pilot bit when said reamer means are in operative position, and means for augmenting such delivery to said bit when said reamer-means are moved to operative position. 4. Ina well boring tool, having reamer-means and a pilot bit therebelow, means urging said reamer-means into inoperative position, piston actuated means for moving said reamer-means into operative position, means for supplying a flushing fluid and for delivering'fluid past said reamer means to said bit when said blades are in inoperative position, and means, controlled by movement of said piston to extend said blades, for augmenting flow of "said fluid past said reamer-means to said bit.

' 5. In a well'boring tool, having reamer blades and a pilot bit therebelow, means urging said blades into inoperative position, piston actuated means for extending said blades into operative position, means for supplying a flushing fluid to said' tool, and for conveying said fluid past said blades to said bit when said blades are in inoperative position, and means, controlled by movement of said piston to extend said blades, for augmenting flow of said fluid past said blades to said bit.

6. In a well boring tool, having reamer-blades and a pilot bit therebelow, a spring urging said blades into inoperative position, piston actuated means for extending said blades into operative position, means for supplying. a flushing fluid and forconve'ying saidfluid past said blades to said bit when said blades are in inoperative, po-

sition, and means, controlled by movement of said piston'to extend said blades, for augmenting flow of said fluid past said blades to said bit. 7.. In a well tool, a hollow actuating'stem, a

head secured to the lower end of said stem and a a pilot bit carried by said head and extending" therebelow, said head carrying shiftable reamermeans abovesaid bit, and including a cylinder in communication with saidhollow stem, a piston in said cylinder, movable by fluid pressure in said cylinder to extend said reamer-means, means operatively connecting said vpiston and said reamer-means, means urging said piston into position to holdsaid reamer-means in inoperative position, a passageway leading continuously from said cylinder past said reaming-means adjacent the point of said bit, said cylinder having a pair of longitudinally spaced openings leading into said passageway, one of said openings lying above said piston when said reamingmeans are in inoperative position, and the other thereof being covered by said piston and both thereoflying above said piston and being unobstructed when said reaming-means are in operative position.

8. In a well tool, a hollow actuating stem, a

head secured to the lower end of said stem and a pilot bit carried by said head, and. extending therebelow,said head carrying shiftable reamer blades above said bit, and including a cylinderin communication with said hollow stem, a piston in said cylinder, movable by fluid pressure .in said cylinder to extend said reamer, blades, means operatively, connecting said piston and said reamer blades,means urging said piston intoposition to hold said reamer blades in inoperative position,,a passageway leading continuously from said'cylinder past said reamer blades adjacent the point of said bit, said cylinder having a pairof longitudinally spaced open- I 'ings leading into said passageway, one of said openings lying above said pistonz when said reamer blades are in inoperative position, and the other thereof being covered'by said piston and both thereof lying above said pistonand being unobstructed when said reamer means are in operative position. V

9. In a well tool, a hollow. actuating'stem, a head secured to the lower end of said stem and a pilot bit carried'by said head and extending therebelow, said head carrying pivotallymounted reamerbladesabove saidbit, 'andjincluding a cylinder in communication with said hollow stem, a piston in said cylinder, movable by fluid ,pressure in said cylinder to extend said reamer blades, arms operatively connecting said piston' and said reamer blades-means urging said piston into position to hold said reamer blades in 

